RESEARCH CENTERS AND FACILITIES ACROSS THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
The College of Engineering (CoE) is the key contributor to Research and Development (R&D) activities at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus (UPRM). During the last two decades, the CoE has evolved from a College with emphasis on traditional teaching and community service, to one with a balanced portfolio which also includes a strong research component. One of the most important components in the research activities at the College of Engineering is the existence of several centers which foster a research culture between professors, departments, students and research support staff. Most of these centers are multidisciplinary, and have close interactions with the industrial sector. These Centers have been an integral part of the level of growth in research activities at the College of Engineering and also play key role not only to reinforce the interdisciplinary research across the Campus but also by having a great impact on the actual and forthcoming Graduate Programs. At present, only Civil Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, and Chemical Engineering offer graduate studies conducive to PhD degrees. The intellectual and infrastructure growth coupled with the high level of excellence in research being experienced at the CoE, in parallel to the new scientific and technological challenges –including arising needs for up-dated technology transfer and innovation policies- faced by the Nation, paved the way to design and implement new graduate programs. The new Graduate Programs, expected to start running on January 2015, were conceived not only for specialized niches of paramount importance to the Island (e.g., Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering) but also in emerging areas of interdisciplinary nature (e.g. Materials Science & Engineering and Bio-Engineering).
MAIN CENTERS & FACILITIES
Facility | Contact | Details |
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|---|---|---|---|
 | Center for Nanostructure Characterization (CeNaC) | Dra. María M. Martínez-Iñesta mariam.martinez@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3605 | Located in an adjacent building in the UPRM Engineering Complex, it houses a high resolution JEOL 2100F Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscope and other advanced nanomaterial characterization instruments, such as XRD, XPS and confocal microscope. Its purpose is to provide access to unique advanced instrumentation capabilities to academic researchers and industry, and to promote competitive research. Go to site.. |
 | NSFERC for Structured Organic Particulate Systems (SOPS) | Dr. Carlos Velázquez carlos.velazquez9@upr.edu or uprmpharmeng@ yahoo. com. 787-832-4040, ext. Ext. 5816, 5813 | This engineering research center focuses on understanding the properties of organic particulate materials and the operations used in the pharmaceutical, food and agrochemical industries to process these materials. SOPS is led by Rutgers University with the participation of University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, (Chemical Engineering Department leaders), Purdue University, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. It started its operation on July 2006. Its vision is to transform the manufacturing of products of the aforementioned industries by enhancing the education experiences of undergraduate students, serving as platform for applied and basic research, offering training for professionals from the industry, and serving as technology transfer and demonstrations. The Center is backed up by most of the big pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, Merck, Abbot, Lilly, Schering Plough, Bristol Myers Squibb, Glaxo Smith Kline and others. Goto site... |
 | Center for Aerospace and Unmanned Systems Engineering (CAUSE) | Vijay K. Goyal vijay.goyal@upr.edu | Center for Aerospace and Unmanned Systems Engineering (CAUSE) is the First Center of Excellence in the Caribbean to provide a framework for broad-based, competitive, multi-institutional, multidisciplinary science and engineering research that will advance the aims of space, aeronautic, and astronautic Mission Directorates across the nation and world at large. The center will foster synergy between the following science and engineering directorates: (i) unmanned systems, (ii) aeronautic, and (iii) space. The center provides an interdisciplinary environment that enables and facilitates participants to carry out collaborative educational and research of a scope and complexity that is not possible through traditional funding models. The Center’s overall mission is to leverage our strong theoretical, computational, and experimental programs to advance the frontiers of fundamental and applied research while educating a new cadre of STEM students. Goto site... |
 | Civil Infrastructure Research Center | Dr. Ricardo López Ri.lopez@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3892, 2178, 3434 | Founded in 1991, CIRC began operating within the Civil Engineering Department in January 1992. For 10 years CIRC received funds from the National Science Foundation through the PR office of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Cooperative Research (PR-EPSCoR). At the present, the center receives funds from Federal Agencies (NSF, DOD, NASA, FEMA, US DOT, DOE, US FRGD), the University of Puerto Rico and the Department of Transportation and Public Works. CIRC also participates in the organization of international conferences and workshops. CIRC’s mission is to help government and industry design, maintain, manage, and improve Puerto Rico’s infrastructure while contributing to the expansion and improvement of the College of Engineering’s undergraduate and graduate programs in infrastructure-related disciplines. More... Go to site.. |
 | Education and Research Internship Program | ismael.pagan@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3393 | ERIP is a Summer Internship Program sponsored by the US ARMY Corps of Engineers and coordinated at the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. It begins orientations every January. Go to site.. |
 | NSF-CREST: Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical, Environmental and Sustainability Applications | Prof Marcelo Suarez oscarmarcelo.suarez@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3393 | With National Science Foundation support, this Center for research and excellence in science and technology further develops the Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical, Environmental and Sustainability Applications. The Center’s mission is to combine transformational and interdisciplinary research and education efforts in the area of nanoscale materials by focusing on: biomedical, environmental remediation, and sustainability applications. More... Go to site.. |
 | Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program | Dr. José a. Martínez Cruzado Jose.martinez44@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3406 | The Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program (PRSMP) has the mission to minimize the fatalities and the economic losses during moderate and high intensity earthquakes through the seismic instrumentation and supporting related research. The PRSMP has two main divisions: the free field stations, and the seismic instrumentation of structures. Regarding the free field stations there are 110 strong motion stations in the main island, surrounding islands (Mona, Caja de Muerto, Culebra and Vieques) and countries US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI), and Dominican Republic. Fifteen stations are continuous recording and sending the data through Internet while other 46 are modem connected.More... Go to site.. |
 | Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center – Local Technical Assistance Program: LTAP-FHWA | Dr. Benjamín Colucci Benjamin.colucci1@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3393 | The Transportation Technology Transfer Center that was created on April 1, 1986 in the Civil Engineering and Surveying Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus as part of the Federal Highway Administration Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) that emphasized technical assistance to local transportation officials in rural communities. With the approval of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991, the program was changed to the present Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and included technical assistance to urban areas with an expansion of the network to 57 Centers (one in each state, five in tribal communities and our Center). More... Go to site.. |
| Puerto Rico Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute | Jorge Rivera-Santos, Ph.D., P.E. jorge.rivera40@upr.edu (787) 833-0300 | PRWRERI is one of 54 water research centers established throughout the United States and its territories by an act of Congress in 1964 which presently operates under Section 104 of the Water Research and Development Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-242). Since its foundation, the Puerto Rico Water Resources Research Institute has sponsored a substantial number of research projects supported jointly by federal and university funds. More... Go to site.. |
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 | Program for Research in Computing and Informational Sciences and Engineering (PRECISE) | Dr. Domingo Rodríguez, Dr. Néstor Rodríguez, Dr. Edgar Acuña, Dr. Manuel Rodríguez, Dr. Wilson Rivera | PRECISE expects to significantly strengthen the current environment in Computing and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE) at UPR through more diverse, competitive, and sustainable research. Four research groups have been created out of these areas: Advanced Data Management (ADM), Automated Information Processing & Digital Systems Implementation (AIP-DSI), Computational Statistics and Data Analysis (CSDA), and Parallel and Distributed Computing (PDC). |
 | Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging System (CENSSIS): | Dr. José Colom, Dr. Sandra Cruz Pol, Dr. Shawn Hunt, Dr. Wilson Rivera,Dr. Rafael Rodríguez Solis, Dr. Raul Torres, Dr. Miguel Velez | Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) data contains high spectral resolution and spatial information of the object under study. HSI processing is based on the concept of imaging spectrometry where spectral and spatial information is used to identify or detect objects, or estimate parameters of interest. As the object of interest is embedded in a complex media (i.e. coastal waters or skin), the measured signature is a distorted version of the original object signature (e.g. a coral reef or a blood vessel) mixed with clutter. The main objective of this research work is the development of information extraction algorithms for HSI data by optimal integration of physical models with the available spatial and spectral information. |
| UPRM-LM Cloud Computing Center | Dr. Manuel Rodríguez manuel.rodriguez7@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | Cloud computing is definitely becoming the next step in the development of distributed applications. By FY2012 all major IT investment requests will require a cloud computing option. The objective of this Center is to investigate and develop an open source private cloud computing research targeting Defense, Intelligence, and Civilian agencies concerned with security and privacy associated with cloud computing. This is a collaborative project with Lockheed Martin Corporation. | |
 | OASIS-Open Access Smart Grids | Dr. Manuel Rodríguez manuel.rodriguez7@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | We seek to develop a new Smart Grid infrastructure where the power utility opens up the electric grid for citizens, businesses, and other third-parties to participate in a marketplace of electric services providers. Goto site... |
 | CPES: Center for Power Electronic Systems | Dr. Eduardo I. Ortiz-Rivera eduardo.ortiz7@upr.edu Dr. Andrés Diaz Andres.Diaz@ece.uprm.edu Dr. Krishnaswami Venkatesan venka@ece.uprm.edu Dr. Marcel Castro-Sitiriche mcastro@ece.uprm.edu Dr. Efrain O’Neill oneill@ieee.org 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | A National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center. CPES is a consortium of 5 Universities and over 80 industries led by Virginia Polytechnic Institute in partnership with University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina A&T, and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. At the University of Puerto Rico- Mayagüez (UPRM), research is focused on power converters, motor drives, electro thermal modeling, and system integration. There are many opportunities for graduate and undergraduate student participation at CPES, which include: fellowships, research assistantships, exchange programs with the other partner institutions, and opportunities to work in state of the art facilities. Go to site... |
 | Weather Radar Network: Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere | Dr. Sandra Cruz Pol cruzpol@ece.uprm.edu Dr. José Colom Ustárizcolom@ece.uprm.edu | A weather research network comprised of two types of X-band weather radars was developed thanks to funding from two NSF programs; Engineering Research Centers (ERC) and Major Research Instrumentation (MRI). The first type of radars are the small Off-the-grid (OTG) radars which measure only rainfall rate and are capable of operating with renewable (wind and/or solar) power in case of blackouts which are common during extreme weather events. The other type of radars are more sophisticated Doppler Polarimetric weather radars called Tropinet, which are capable of measuring rainfall, wind speed and other hydrometeors such as hail, among others. This project provided the first polarimetric weather radars on the island. More... Go to site.. |
 | CASA: Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere | Dr. Sandra Cruz Pol cruzpol@ece.uprm.edu Dr. José Colom Ustárizcolom@ece.uprm.edu | CASA seeks to advance fundamental knowledge and provide societal benefits by creating a new engineering paradigm for observing, detecting, and predicting weather and other atmospheric phenomena. Distributed refers to the use of a dense network of radars capable of high spatial and temporal resolution. These systems will operate collaboratively within a dynamic information technology infrastructure, adapting to changing conditions in a manner that meets competing needs of end users, the government, private industry, and the public.More... Go to site.. |
 | UPRM Model Factory | Dr. Pedro Resto presto@ece.uprm.edu 787-832-4040 Ext. 3819 | The UPRM Model Factory integrates modern equipment, materials, and people into a manufacturing system. Its mode of operation is through interdisciplinary working teams from several engineering and business disciplines. This is a coordinated effort between several Engineering Departments. The goals of these laboratory facilities are to provide the following:More... |
 | The Applied Optimization Group at UPRM | Mauricio Cabrera-Ríos, PhD mauricio.cabrera1@upr.edu, applied.optimization@gmail.com 787324040 x5964 | The AOG at UPRM focuses on statistical characterization, modeling and optimization of manufacturing sytems, processes, as well as biological systems. Follow us on Twitter.. Go to site.. |
| Mechatronics Center | Dr. Pedro J Resto Pedroj.resto@upr.edu Phone: 787-832-4040 Ext 3719 | The Mechatronics Center at the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department is the only training and research center in Puerto Rico dedicated to study intelligent mechanical and electromechanical systems. The center offers training to industry and support for existing ME courses while providing facilities and resources for research in the fields of modeling and computer control of mechanical and electromechanical systems. More... | |
| Tropical Center for Earth and Space Studies (TCESS) | Dr. Miguel Velez-Reyes | The Tropical Center for Earth and Space Studies (TCESS) at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is a NASA University Research Center (URC) established in 1995. The TCESS mission is to conduct research and to train students in areas of interest to NASA strategic enterprises. Our vision is to become a resource to NASA and the nation for high quality relevant research as well as trained professionals. TCESS is a multidisciplinary research center with the participation of faculty and students from the Colleges of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, and Agriculture. The center has six components: Space Information Laboratory (SIL), Bio-Optical Oceanography, Materials and Electronics for Space Applications (MESA), Information Processing and Extraction (IPEG), Carbon Sequestration in Tropical Watersheds, and Education and Outreach effort GLOBE/TEST. |
RESEARCH LABORATORIES
Laboratory | Department | Contact | Description | Last Revision | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Automated Information Processing (AIP) Laboratory | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Domingo Rodríguez domingo@ece.uprm.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | The Automated Information Processing (AIP) Laboratory has as main objective to conduct basic and applied research in the design and development of efficient rapid systems prototypes for digital electronics applications.More... Go to site.. | July 2015 |
| The Power Electronics Laboratory | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Eduardo I. Ortiz-Rivera eortiz@ece.uprm.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | The Power Electronics Laboratory includes three workstation with specialize software for power electronics application, and motor control. This laboratory serves the capstone design course in power electronics, demos for the motor control course, and research (both graduate and undergraduate). Students in this laboratory design systems with solar power, energy efficiency, converting from DC to AC and vice versa, etc. | July 2015 | |
| Integrated Circuits Design Laboratory (ICDL) | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Manuel Jiménez Manuel.jimenez1@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | This facility is devoted to the tasks of designing and testing analog, digital, and mixed-signal integrated circuits and systems. More... | July 2015 | |
| Space Information Laboratory (SIL) | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Rafael A. Rodríguez Solís Rafael.rodriguez18@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | The facility is currently housing the TeraScan High-Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) reception system, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) station, and the Satellite Data Acquisition & Research (SAR) station. SIL capabilities enable students to have the opportunity of hands-on experience with satellite ground stations. More.... | July 2015 | |
| Laboratory for Applied Remote Sensing and Image Processing | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Luis O. Jiménez Jiménez @ece.uprm.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 5276 | LARSIP is a multidisciplinary laboratory Engineering at UPRM dedicated to research and implementation of remote sensing, and to the development of signal and image processing, geographical information systems (GIS), and emergency response system and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. More... Go to site.. | July 2015 | |
| Rapid System Prototyping Laboratory (RASP) | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Manuel Jiménez Manuel.jimenez1@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | The main mission of the RASP Laboratory is to enable graduate students acquire the necessary training, skills, expertise, and capabilities to conduct academic and industrial research work in the field of rapid prototyping digital and mixed-signal electronic systems. | July 2015 | |
 | Parallel and Distributed Computing Laboratory (PDCLab) | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Wilson Rivera wilson.riveragallego@upr.edu 787-833.3323 | The Parallel and Distributed Computing Laboratory (PDCLab) at UPRM facilitates a research and educational environment for faculty and students to perform research in the theoretical foundations, design, implementation, and efficiency measurements of parallel and distributed systems. | July 2015 |
| Electric Motors and Drives Laboratory | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Dr. Marcel Castro Sitiriche Marcel.castro@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3821 | Experimental facilities dedicated to component testing and prototyping, component modeling and simulation.More... | July 2015 | |
| Bio-Industrial Engineering Laboratory (Bio IE Lab) | Industrial Engineering | Dr. Mauricio Cabrera Mauricio.cabrera1@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3819 | The Bio IE Lab focuses on the use of engineering analysis methods to extract biological knowledge from scientific in-silico, in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. The laboratory integrates high computing capabilities and state-of-the-art algorithms to lead data-based biological discovery. Go to site.. | ||
 | Manufacturing Automation Laboratory | Industrial Engineering | Dr. Lourdes Medina lourdes.medina@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3819 | This teaching-learning facility is the hands-on laboratory for the Real Time Process Control course where students design, build, and control scaled models, mainly emulating real manufacturing operations. | |
 | Lean Logistics (LeLo) Laboratory | Industrial Engineering | Dr. Héctor Carlo Hector.carlo@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3819 | The Lean Logistics (LeLo) Lab is a student-centered lab that provides hands-on experience while creating practical research-based solutions to contemporary logistics problems. Currently the lab has three main streams of research: events logistics, facility logistics, and humanitarian logistics. Consulting and training at the supply chain, facility, or production line level are available through the lab. The LeLo lab, located in II-115, has received funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, USGS, Boeing, and Transporte Sonnell. Go to site.. | July 2015 |
 | International Service Systems Research Laboratory (ISSER) | Industrial Engineering | Dr. Alexandra Medina Borja alexandra.medinaborja @upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3819 | ISSER is a research and consulting laboratory whos is to support ongoing research and professional services that advance the understanding, design and evaluation of complex service-delivery systems. More... Go to site.. | Oct 2 2015 waiting response from Director |
| Statistical Quality Control Laboratory | Industrial Engineering | Dr. David González david.gonzalez6@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3819 | The laboratory is equipped with Statistical software for data analysis, design of experiments, and validation procedures. It can also provide hands- on demonstrations for applied statistics courses and for simulation courses. | ||
| Measurement Laboratory | Industrial Engineering | Dr. Cristina Pomales cristina.pomales@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3819 | This laboratory has been designed to provide students with hands on experience in the analysis and evaluation of humans and their working environment. Tasks are simulated and evaluated based on anthropometrics, biomechanics, cardiovascular, and force requirements. More... | ||
| New Materials Development Laboratory (NMDL) | Mechanical Engineering | Dr. Pablo Cáceres Pablo.caceres@upr.edu Dr. Pedro Quintero Pedro.quintero@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3719 | NMDL is responsible for matching many new differentiated materials and technologies with market needs in the areas of bioengineering, alternative energy and electronics. | July 2015 | |
| Vehicle Design and Research Laboratory | Mechanical Engineering | Dr. David Serrano David.serrano@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3719 | This research lab is involved with alternate fuel vehicle research for current and future transportation needs. Current research includes an energy management for solar powered, electric and hybrid vehicles, motorsport vehicle optimization, high speed maglev transportation systems and r/c aircraft. | July 2015 | |
| Micro and Nano Devices Research Laboratory | Mechanical Engineering | Dr. Rubén E. Díaz Rubene.diaz@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3719 | The Micro and Nano Devices Research Laboratory is a Class 100 (ISO Class 5) cleanroom for photolithography. | July 2015 | |
| Mechanical Systems Response Research Laboratory | Mechanical Engineering | Dr. David Serrano David.serrano@upr.edu Dr. Frederick Just Frederick.just@upr.edu 787-832-4040 Ext 3719 | MSRRL supports research efforts in various areas that focus on mechanical/material component systems in military and civil applications. Areas ranging from structural vibration control, material characterization, infrastructure health monitoring and diagnostics to even Micro Electronic Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor development and applications are currently being performed. More.... | July 2015 | |
| The Bio-Microfluidics Research Laboratory | Mechanical Engineering | Rubén E. Díaz-Rivera, Ph.D rubene.diaz@upr.edu T: 787-832-4040 x2529 | The Bio-Microfluidics Research Laboratory focuses on the design, fabrication, and characterization of microfluidic devices intended to manipulate, treat and/or analyze single biological cells for fundamental biological research or biomedical applications. | July 2015 |